Shoe back



2 Sheets-Sheet C. P. MITCHEL SHOE RACK Original Filed March 27. 1922 June 26, 1928.

I June 2a, 1928.

- 1,674,654 c. P. MITCHEL V SHOE RACK Ori inal Filed March 27. 1922 g sheeics sheet 2 offiyfi F/ G 12 i i I l I I l I I I I I E i I I V I M r 1 v Y v as A m LJ/ .aww,

Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITE was SHOE RACK.

Application filed March 27, 1922, Serial No. 547,159. Renewed December. 12, 1927.

This invention relates to an improvement in shoe racks and method of making the same.

One of the objects of my invention has been to simplify and cheapen the construction of shoe racks for. use especially for keepingshoes off the floor in closets or the like.

Another object of my invention has been so to construct a shoe rack of this type that a plurality of them may readily be nested for shipping, with resultant economy for this purpose.

Another object of my invention is to con struct a shoe rack which will ha'v'ethe upper and lower shoe supporting, bars present a more or less flat surface to the sole of the shoe instead of a sharp edge. I 7 Other objects of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description of a shoe rackembodying it. 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a shoe rack embodying my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thesame. Fig. .3 is a perspective view illustrating the application of one of the racks to a door. Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and eillustrate a number of the racks nested forshipping.

Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a modified form of shoe rack embodying my invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a blank of sheet metal in perspective from which one of my modified forms of shoe rack may be formed.

Fig. 9 illustrates the first blanking operation in the formation of the one piece shoe rack. i

Fig. 10 illustrates the first bending operation on the blank.

Fig. 11 illustrates the second bending operation on the blank.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modified blanking op eration in perspective.

Fig. 13 is a view in perspective of my modified form of shoe rack of the type shown in Fig. 12.

In the drawings 1 represents an upper bar preferably made of readily formable metal, such as cold roll flat wire. This bar is formed near either end with portions 1*, 1 bent at substantially right angles to a central portion 1 and with portions 1, 1 bent at substantially right angles to the por tions i and 1", respectively.

lower bar 2 is formed with a central portion 2, end portions 2 2 which are longer, substantially twice the length of the corresponding end portions 1 1 of the upper bar, and with portions 2 2 at right angles to the portions 2*, 2*, respectively. The portions 1 1 2 and 2 are preferably of the same dimensions. 3, 3 are vertical supports for the rack arranged at either end thereof and each preferably formed of a metallic material of the same character and size as the upper and lower bars land 2, The portions 1 1 of the upper bar are secured in any suitable manner to the upper end of the vertical supports 3 and 3 respectively, whereas the portions 2 52 of the lower bar are likewise se cured to the lower ends of said supports re spectively. I have found a neat, simple, durable and economical method of making these connections to be by electric spot welding. When thus constructed, the shoe racks are relatively light in weight, neat in appearance andsufiiciently rigid for all requirements.

'It will be noted that the central portions of the bars 1 and 2 are horizontally disposed one above the other and in differentvertical planes so that the heel of the shoe may be engaged and retained in position by the up per bar while the front part of the sole of the shoe rests upon the upper surface of the lowerbar. It will thus be seen by comparing Figs. 1

and 2 that the vertical supports 3, 3 connecting the end portions 1, 2* and 1 2*, respectively, are horizontally spaced apart intermediate the shoe supporting portions a greater distance than the Width of the shoe supporting portions plus the thickness of the end portions. Thus other shoe racks of the same size can have either'the shoe supporting portion 2 and the end portions 2 2 or the portion 1 and the end portions 1 1 readily insertable between the vertical supports 3, 3 of another shoe rack and the of such metal.

not be dislodged; from the rack by an ordinary slammingoi the door. Prefera ly the cold drawn steel wire has rounded edges which facilitate the use and handling of the rack.

By constructing my improved shoe rack substantially in skeleton form, it will be noted that I may readily nest pliuralities of the same for economy of space in shipping or "storing. In Figs. 5 and: 6 I have shown several of my improved shoe racks thus nested. In Figs. 7 to 13 inclusivemy invention is embodied in a rack formed from a single piece of sheet metal, preferably cold rolled sheet steel. Fig. 8 represents a blank This blank is first subjected to a blanking operation afterwhich it bears the shape illustrated in Fig. 9. In the next forming operation, preferably the ends-of the blank are bent at right angles tothe upper and lower bars as illustrated in Fig. 10, thusproviding two center portions 4, 5 of the same length with end bars 46, 4" and 5, 5'. respectively. Next the connecting bars. or supports 6 are bent substantially at right angles totheend sections i 415, 5!.

It will thus be seen that I have formed from a single piece of sheet metal a rack embodying my invention which, when attached to a flat vertical surface such as a door, will provide upper and' lower bars 4s, 5? respectively, in different vertical: planes, since the end bars 43, 4 connecting the upper bar 4 with the supports 6 are shorter thanthe end bars 5, 5 connecting the lower ban 4- with the said supports.

Shouldv it be desired to form shoe racks embodying. my invention by this process and in this manner'ot relatively. thin sheet metal and yet, have the supportsv sufiiciently rigid,

the same may be accomplished by. providing gest themselves without; departing front the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and description herein are. purely illustrative and are-not intended to be in any. sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1:. A shoe rack including a pair of relatively narrow spaced members each having a shoe supporting portion and end portions extending at an angle tov the shoe supporting portion, said members being disposed in ditferent vertical planes, one above the other,

said end portions having outwardly extend-- ing flanges substantially parallel to the shoe v other and in different vertical planes, connecting members connecting the adjacent endsofsaid end portions, and means whereby the said connecting members: are spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the shoe supporting portion whereby said shoe rack is readily nestable with other shoe racks of the same size.

3. A. shoe rack including a pair of relatively narrow spaced members comprising shoe supporting portions and end portions bent substantially at right angles tothe shoe supporting portions, the end portions of the uppermember being substantially shorter than the end: portions of the lower member, said end portions being provided with end flanges extending outwardly substantially at right angles to the-end portions, and vertical supports each; connecting a pair of said end flanges, the portions of the vertical supports intermediate the shoe supporting menr bersbeing. spaced a greater distance apart than the widtlr of'the shoe supporting portions.

4.. A shoe rack including a pair of rela tively narrow spaced membenseach having a shoe supporting portion and end portions eXtending at ansangle tothe shoe supporting portion, said shoe supporting portions being disposed one alcove the other in different vertical planes, all of; said end; portions terminating with flanges disposed in a plane substantially parallel to-the shoe supporting portions, and: connecting members connecting the-adjacent flanges of said-spaced members and serving as supports for. the rack.

In testimony whereof I affixmy, signature.

0. PIQUE'DTE MITCHEL. I 

